OARDC Muck Crops Agricultural Research Station

The rich, black soils of Huron County, Ohio, are perfect for OARDC’s Muck Crops Station — the oldest location among the outlying stations. It is here, in the heart of fresh market vegetable country, that Ohio State scientists study radishes, parsley, cilantro, green and bulb onions, and many other leaf and root crops.

The station got started in 1948, when a group of area producers (called the Golden Rule Association) purchased and donated 15.5 acres of muck soil near Celeryville to the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station (now OARDC) for use as an experimental farm. The soil here is almost 45 percent organic matter, whereas most mineral soils only have 3 to 5 percent organic matter.

Ohio’s muck crop growers face unique problems. These specialized vegetable crops experience diseases, insects and weed growth uncommon to other areas of the country. Scientists overcome these challenges with new cultural practices and management techniques. Important areas of research include soil fertility; seed quality; seed treatments; transplant production; stand establishment; irrigation; insect, disease and weed control; and cultivar evaluations.
Plant pathologists study the chemical and biological control of disease organisms. Scientists have found that along with resistant cultivars, proper field site selection, crop rotation, limited application of pesticides, controlled moisture in the fields, and chemically treated seed are some of the best approaches to protecting crops from disease.
Entomologists and weed scientists who conduct work at the station are also trying to produce healthy vegetable crops with fewer chemical insecticides. Research is conducted on insect life cycles, minor use pesticides and integrated pest management methods. The abundance of weeds as well as their tendency to become immune to specific herbicide chemical applications creates real challenges for those seeking answers to this widespread and growing problem.
Area growers use transplants to lengthen the growing season and improve stand uniformity over direct seeding. The station’s 2,500-square-foot greenhouse is used for transplant production research, providing vigorous young plants for many of the research trials conducted on and off the farm.
The Muck Crops Research Station has a great relationship with local farmers and strives to repay their high level of support with a high level of research to continually improve on their farming processes.
The Muck Crops Station is dedicated to improving fresh market vegetable production. Other research universities, chemical and seed companies, local producers and mineral and muck crops growers from around the country and the world continually try to share this ever-expanding and urgently needed research information. The ultimate goal is to improve vegetable growing practices and produce a safe, higher-quality and more abundant crop to help feed the United States and the world.